Lubricator for journal boxes



Oct. 14, 1958 J, HERRv ET AL 2,856,241

LUBRICA'TOR FOR JOURNAL BOXES Filed May 16, 1956 INVENTORS John D. Herr up y Dwlz WMownk '51 ATTORNEYS United States Patent LUBRICATOR FOR JOURNAL BOXES John D. Herr and Dick W. Mount, Minerva, Ohio Application May 16, 1956, Serial No. 585,356

9 Claims. (c1. abs-s The invention relates to lubricators for journal boxes of railroad cars, and more particularly to a lubricating device which eliminates the use of waste packing in the journal box.

As is well known, it is common practice to pack oil saturated waste between the underside of the journal and lower portion of the journal box in order to lubricate the journal, and in turn the bearing, by contact of the rotating journal with the oil soaked packing.

Various forms of packing retainers have been designed for holding the packing below the journal, but difiiculty is frequently caused by small bits of the waste packing sticking to the rotating journal and being carried upward between the bearing and the journal.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a lubricator for railroad car journal boxes which dispenses with the use of packing the journal box.

Another object is to provide such a lubricator including a rotating applicator for continuously applying a film of oil to the journal during rotation thereof.

A further object is to provide a lubricat or of this character which is attached to the journal itself, and is entirely independent of the journal box, and which will function regardless of the position of the journal relative to the journal box.

A still further object is to provide a lubricator of the, character referred to which feeds oil to the journalfreely and does not unduly roil or disturb the oil supply.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a lubricator in which the applicator is driven by rotation of the journal. I

A further object is to provide a lubricator of this character comprising a supporting frame pivotally con-' nected to the end of the journal and having a rotating applicator journalled therein with gears operatively connecting the applicator to the journal.

Still another object is to provide such a lubricator having means for detachably connecting the same to the end of the journal.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a or which may belater referred to, may be attained by constructing the improved lubricator in the manner hereinafter described in detail and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In general terms the invention may be stated as comprisingan elongated frame member having intermeshing pinions journalled thereon, with means for attaching the uppermost pinion to the end of the journal, the applicator being operatively connected to the lowermost pinion and comprising a vane or paddle of felt, bristles or other suitable material arranged to alternately dip into the lubricating oil'in the bottom of the journal box and contact the underside of the journal.

The uppermost pinion includes a disc having countersunk screw holes therein for attaching to the end of the journal and having a conical center thereon for insertion into the usual center opening of the journal.

Arms or rods are attached to opposite sides of the frame and adapted to contact the flanges at opposite edges ofthe bearing in order to hold the device properly positioned within the journal box.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which;

Fig. l is a detached perspective view of a lubricating device for railroad car journal boxes, constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. ,2 is a longitudinal sectional view through a conventional' railroad car journal box, showing the lubricator mounted therein; and

Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the line 3-3, Fig. 2.

Referring now more particularly to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in which similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout, a railroad car journal 14, atthe inner end of the journal box, this opening being provided with a conventional oil seal 15 having the circular opening 16 therein for engaging the enlarged cylindrical portion 17 of the journal.

The usual opening 18 at the outer end of the journal box is adapted to be closed by the conventional hinged cover 19. All of the above may be of conventional construction and design of railroad car journal boxes and in themselves form no part of the present invention which is concerned only with a novel construction of lubricator for such journal boxes.

Referring now to the lubricator to which the invention pertains, the same includes the frame member, in the form of an elongated metal plate 20, preferably having the upper and lower rounded ends as indicated at 21.

A series of pinions are journalled upon the plate 20 and may be designated as the upper or driving pinion 22, the intermediate or idler pinion 23, and the lower or driven pinion 24. The shafts 25, 26 and 27 respectively, of the three pinions, are journalled within the bushings a 28, 29 and 30 respectively, in the plate 20, and collars 31, 32 and 33 respectively are pinned or otherwise fixed upon the ends of the shafts.

A disc 34 is integrally formed upon or rigidly attached to the driving pinion 22, and has formed on its inner side a center cone 35 terminating in the reduced stud 36 adapted to fit within the usual center opening 37 in the end of the journal 11. Countersunk screw holes 38 are provided in the disc 34 for attaching the same to the end of the journal as by the screws 39.

An elongated shaft 40 is concentrically attached to the inner side of the driven pinion 24, for the purpose of mounting the applicator which may be in the form of a vane or paddle of felt or other suitable material as indicated at 41, or in the form of a brush or the like.

Curved clamping strips 42 engage opposite sides of the central tubular portion 43 of the applicator for clamping the same to the shaft 40 as by cotter pins 44 or the like.

The applicator 41 is so proportioned and positioned that as the same rotates the outer edges will just dip below the level of the lubricating oil 45 in the bottom of the For the purpose of holding the lubricating device properly positioned within the journal box, rods or arms 46 are attached to each side of the frame plate 20, the angular upper ends 47 thereof engaging the usual flanges 48 at opposite sides of the bearing 12.

For the purpose of storing lubricant at the top of the journal, when the same is idle, a longitudinal groove 49, closed at both ends, may be formed in the bearing 12. Thus, as a film of oil is carried upward upon the journal, a portion of the oil will be deposited in the groove 49 until the same is filled, and will thus furnish lubricant to the bearing immediately upon starting up of a car which has stood idle for some time.

From the above it will be apparent that a lubricator is provided for railroad our journal boxes which eliminates the need for waste or other form of packing or capillary-acting material.

It will be seen that the lubricator is entirely independ ent of the journal box, being attached only to the journal itself so that it Will function regardless of the position of the journal with relation to the journal box.

In actual operation the device feeds oil to the journal freely and does not unduly roil the oil supply, producing a minimum disturbance laterally with no excess waste of oil through the dust guard or rear opening in the journal box. A very low level of oil is required for proper functioning.

The application of the lubricating device to the front end of the journal provides for easy and ready handling and also leaves room for much easier and more eificient inspection at all times.

With this lubricating device, eliminating the use of waste or other packing material, it will be seen that all of the journal not covered by the bearing is bare and free to dissipate heat. Service at division yards will be limited to check on the oil level and addition of oil when needed. All parts of the device are easily removable and replaceable and like parts are interchangeable.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such words are used for descriptive purposes herein andare intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiments of the improved construction illustrated and described herein-are by way of example, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the exact details of construction.

Having now described the invention or discovery, the construction, the operation, and use of preferred embodi ments thereof, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained thereby; the new and useful construction, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In combination, a journal box, a journal rotatably mounted therein, a bearing between the journal and the top of the journal box, an oil reservoir in the journal box below the journal, a lubricator comprising an elongated frame member, journal means in the upper portion of said frame member and attached to the end of the journal, an elongated applicator journalled upon the lower portion of said frame, said applicator being located below the journal and parallel and coextensive therewith said applicator being supported solely by the journal through said frame and being entirely disconnected from the journal box, arms upon said frame for contact only with the underside of said bearing, and drive means operatively connecting the applicator to the journal. for rotating the applicator so as to alternately contact the oil level in the bottom of the journal box and the underside of the journal.

2. In combination, a journal box, a journal rotatably mounted therein, a bearing between the journal and the top of the journal box, an oil reservoir in the journal box below the journal, a lubricator comprising an elongated frame member, journal means in the upper portion of said frame member and attached to the end of the journal, an elongated applicator journalled upon the lower portion of said frame, said applicator comprising a shaft and a flexible vane thereon, and being located below the journal and parallel and coextensive therewith said applicator being supported solely by the journal through said frame and being entirely disconnected from the journal box, arms upon said frame for contact only with the underside of said bearing, and drive means operatively connecting the applicator to the journal for rotating the applicator so as to alternately contact the oil level in the bottom of the journal box and the underside of the journal.

3. In combination, a journal box, a journal rotatably mounted therein, a bearing between the journal and the top of the journal box, an oil reservoir in the journal box below the journal, a lubricator comprising an elongated frame member, journal means in the upper portion of said frame member and attached to the end of the journal, an elongated applicator journalled upon the lower portion of said frame, said applicator being located below the journal and parallel and coextensive therewith said applicator being supported solely by the journal through said frame and being entirely disconnected from the journal box, arms upon said frame for contact only with the underside of said bearing, and gear drive means operatively connecting the applicator to the journal for rotating the applicator so as to alternately contact the oil level in the bottom of the journal box and the underside of the journal.

4. In combination, a journal box, a journal rotatably.

mounted therein, a bearing between the journal and the top of the journal box, an oil reservoir in the journal box below the journal, a lubricator comprising an elongated frame member, journal means in the upper portion of said frame member upon the end of the journal, an elongated applicator journalled upon the lower portion of said frame, said applicator being located below the journal and parallel and coextensive therewith said applicator being supported solely by the journal through said frame and being entirely disconnected from the journal box, drive means operatively connecting the applicator to the journal for rotating the applicator so as to alter nately contact the oil level in the bottomof the'journal box and the underside of the journal, and arms upon opposite sides of said frame member contacting opposite sides of the bearing for holding the frame member centered in the journal box.

5. In combination, a journal box, a journal rotatably mounted therein, a bearing between the journal and the top of the journal box, an oil reservoir in the journal box below the journal, a lubricator comprising an elongated frame member, journal means in the upper portion of said frame member and attached to the end of the journal, an elongated applicator journalled upon the lower portion of said frame, said applicator comprising a shaft and diametrically opposed flexible vanes thereon, and being located below the journal and parallel and coextensive therewith said applicator being supported solely by the journal through said frame and being entirely disconnected from the journal box, arms upon said frame for contact only with the underside of said bearing, and drive means operatively connecting the applicator to the journal for rotating the applicator so as to alternately contact the oil level in the bottom of the journal box and the underside of the journal.

6. In combination, a journal box, a journal rotatably mounted therein and having a conical center opening in its end, a bearing between the journal and the top of the journal box, an oil reservoir in the journal box below the journal, a lubricator comprising an elongated frame member, a driving pinion journalled upon the upper portion of the frame member, a center cone upon said pinion engaging the center opening in the journal, means attaching said pinion to the end of the journal, a shaft journalled in the lower portion of the frame member and located below the journal and parallel and coextensive therewith, said shaft being supported solely by the journal through said frame and being entirely disconnected from the journal box, arms upon said frame for contact only with the underside of said bearing, a radially disposed vane upon said shaft for alternately contacting the oil level in the reservoir and the underside of the journal, a driven pinion upon said shaft and an idler pinion meshing with the driving pinion and the driven pinion.

7. In combination, a journal box, a journal rotatably mounted therein and having a conical center opening in its end, a bearing between the journal and the top of the journal box, an oil reservoir in the journal box below the journal, a lubricator comprising an elongated frame member, a driving pinion journalled upon the upper portion of the frame member, a disc fixed to said pinion, means attaching said disc to the end of the journal, a shaft journalled in the lower portion of the frame member and located below the journal and parallel and coextensive therewith said shaft being supported solely by the journal through said frame and being entirely disconnected from the journal box, arms upon said frame for contact only with the underside of said bearing, a radially disposed vane upon said shaft for alternately contacting the oil level in the reservoir and the underside of the journal, a driven pinion upon said shaft and an idler pinion meshing with the driving pinion and the driven pinion.

8. In combination, a journal box, a journal rotatably mounted therein and having a conical center opening in its end, a bearing between the journal and the top of the journal box, an oil reservoir in the journal box below the journal, a lubricator comprising an elongated frame memher, a disc journalled upon the upper portion of the frame member, means attaching said disc to the end of the journal, a shaft journalled in the lower portion of the frame member and located below the journal and parallel and coextensive therewith said shaft being supported solely by the journal through said frame and being entirely disconnected from the journal box, arms upon said frame for contact only with the underside of said bearing, a radially disposed vane upon said shaft for alternately contacting the oil level in the reservoir and the underside of the journal, and means operatively connecting said shaft to said disc.

9. In combination, a journal box, a journal rotatably mounted therein and having a conical center opening in its end, a bearing between the journal and the top of the journal box, an oil reservoir in the journal box below the journal, a lubricator comprising an elongated frame member, a disc journalled upon the upper portion of the frame member, a center cone upon said disc engaging the center opening in the journal, means attaching said disc to the end of the journal, a shaft journalled in the lower portion of the frame member and located below the journal and parallel and coextensive therewith said shaft being supported solely by the journal through said frame and being entirely disconnected from the journal box, arms upon said frame for contact only with the underside of said bearing, a radially disposed vane upon said shaft for alternately contacting the oil level in the reservoir and the underside of the journal, and means operatively connecting said shaft to said disc.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Browning Sept. 9, 1952 

